Tastee Diner — Restaurant in Laurel

I visited the Tastee Diner for the first time this past Saturday because I wanted to (1) have a good breakfast and (2) I wanted the old school diner feel. The reviews seemed to be pretty good, so I figured why not give them a try. Upon pulling up, I sat in my car to review the menu and because I had received a phone call. My eyes were met by a gentleman who I thought was a patron leaving the restaurant (but later seen he was behind the counter-so I assume he was an employee/manager?). Everytime I looked up, he was staring directly at me. When I no longer saw him outside, I finally decided to go inside. I wasn't greeted by anyone just cold stares and lack of customer service. I saw 2 women sitting at the counter, eating and holding a conversation with the gentleman that was outside staring at me. All 3 saw me come in and looked at me without saying a word until I asked: Can I Sit Anywhere? Them: Yes. Again, no warm greeting or smiles. They simply carried on their conversation. So I went and sat at a table along the wall. It was me and another couple in the restaurant. After 5 minutes of settling in, I was greeted by the waitress. When I ordered my food, the waitress then says to me: That is going be $12.58. Are you ok with that? I was taken aback because I wasn't ordering to go. I was sitting down to eat and the prices were right there in front of me on the menu. Weird. Typcially whenever I dine in at family owned restuarants, the hospitality is unbelievably great. The employees and managers are warm and embracing. However, this time I can't say I had such a grand experience at this diner. I guess you have to be a regular, in order to be well received by this restaurant. I paid my tab and quickly left. I felt very uncomfortable, scrutinized and definitely will not return. Even though they had 1 African American employee, I definitely feel like if you're African American-you're given the side eye/not...

This place has been here forever. Today was the first time I visited. Wish I had done so years ago. I recently moved to Laurel and pass the this diner several times a week. From the outside, it doesn't look like much. Well, the Tastee Diner is one of those places just goes to show that "looks ain't everything!" I had time while a nearby business was taking care of my truck so I walked to the Tastee. Inside was a classic diner, booths, counter, chrome everywhere. I was quickly seated and my order of two eggs, over medium with sausage and toast plus a side of home fries w/onions was taken. Those home fries are important, all too often I get luke-warm, undercooked and barely browned potato cubes. The Tastee Diner shares my revulsion of bad home fries because what I was served was a nice heap of hot, creamy on the inside, crispy and browned on the outside and edges, with onions that were perfectly sauteed and not burnt! I'll go back just for the home fries! My eggs were cooked perfectly and the sausage was just wonderful, like the essence of what a breakfast sausage should taste like. My white bread toast was as expected and tasted just fine with jelly. I didn't have coffee but my waitress offered refills at least twice to the tables around me. The prices were reasonable, the service was good and the food was great. Give the place a try, you...

This small diner has been in existence since 1938 from a physical standpoint, it's seen a little bit better days in the past. My wife and I both were there this morning for breakfast. I got the western omelette which was correctly prepared and done nicely and she got two eggs with the bacon very crisp. One thing we are a little surprised that is that neither grits nor potatoes came with the breakfast. This has been sort of a saint of procedure at literally every breakfast place we've been at for the last 20 years I know times are hard I guess they're forced to cheapen up however they can. For the two of us, it was $26 for breakfast which given what it was I think is a little high. So this place doesn't quite hit the mom and pop diner somewhere in between that and some of the wannabe Mom and pops like silver diner etc that are now getting a bit uppity in both price and everything else. Still, it was a decent meal and I guess that's the important part. On 11/20, we returned and had a marvelous breakfast. On this day, everything was perfect. Andy cream chip beef and some of the best I've had in years. They definitely get a two thumbs up...